The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-04-06

1nson, OF which the Republican candidate
for Mayor was the senior member. had been
engaged in some very disrepusable transactions
In the way of the unlawful evasion of duties on
salt, and had been caught at it. At first these
reports were very vague. but they gradually
assumed tangible shape 1t was said that hole
had been broken in brick wall between free
and bonded warehouse OF the firm of Woodruff
q Robinson, and that through this hole large
quantities of imported fish were passed without
the payment of any duty. while domestic fish
was made to take the place of the more valuable
commodity. 1t was said that the government
Detectives had caught the firm dead TO rights"
B. g. jayne of New York, former we'll known
agent Of the revenue. was interviewed by the
representative of local paper. He refused to
talk, but he allowed the reporter to see the Off
cial records in his position which showed that
the firm of Woodruff e. Robinson had compro-
missed with the government on a clearly illegal
transaction in which they had been discovered.
These records were published in full bv the local
paper mentioned, then the Republican organ Of
the county. but stalwart to the core, and above
all III full sympathy with Plymouth Church, of
which its owner, Mr.. Lorin Palmer. had been
prominent member, and at one time treasurer.
In all these rumors, which grew thick and
fast as election day approached, the name of the
late Jeremiah P. Robinson. Jeffersonian Dem
ocrat, of the old firm of Woodruff & Robinson,
was carefully eliminated from anything disered
liable. 1t was said that he did not know what
his partners were doing. and ali the blame and
all the responsibility for the shady transactions
with the government were laid upon the shout
ders of Franklin Woodruff, the Republican cam
didate for Mayor, and Frank Moulton. the mu-
tnal friend of the scandal days, who the
junior member of the firm. At last came the
report, In specific language, that it was Mr.
Beechers influence with the Grant administra-
ton at Washington which saved the concern
from absolute ruin, and that 1t was through him
the partners were left off with fine Of several
thousand dollars Mr. Woodruff felt that these
reports most industriousiy circulated by some
secret power. and from some occult source, were
being disastrous to his canvass for the mayor
atty. Finally he could stand it no longer, and,
in an unlucky moment, he authorized the pub
LEGATION of statement to the effect that Mr..
Beecher had declared that the firm to WHICH he
belonged had never wronged the government
and blameess SO far as the charges of
smuggling made against them were concerned.
This was precisely the opportunity Mr.. Wood
ruffs opponents in Plymouth Church we're wait
| ing for They knew that under ordinary cir
| cumstances charity would keep the lips of the
| great dominic sealed about what had passed,
| and about which he knew more than any man
| In the community. But they knew that the
| moment any one traded on his great name with
/ out justification the old Adam would rise within
! him, and it would be fatal for the offender.
| They diagnosed the situation by hairs breadth.
| On the evening Of the day in which Mr.. Frank
| lin Woodruff authorized the publication of the
/ above hazardous statement, a reporter was sent
/ to see Mr.. Beecher at his then residence on
| Columbia Heights He received the reporte. in
| his parlor, and calling his son, Col. William c.
| Beecher, to him, he said:
| William. let US hear together what this gen.
| tleman has to say"
| The reporter explained what Mr. Woodruff
| had publicly said and asked Mr.. Beecher if he
| desired to Say ANYTHING in reply. Woodruff
| said that. did hel" unused the grand old man.
| and he added: II may have something to say in
| the morning." and, abruptly terminated the
| conversation. On the next day, sure enough,
there was in every newspaper Office in Brooklyn
a letter from Mr.. Beecher. 1t was brief, but it
was tremendously to the point It ran as fol-
| lows:
.t COLUMBIA HEIGHTS, Oct 81, 1879.
| To the Editor of the
My Dear Sir-I am informed that Mr.. franklin
Woodruff has stated that have approved of all the
relations of the firm of Woodruff & Robinson toward
the federal government In making such statement
Mr. Woodruff is to say the least, acting very disn-
| genuously. Yours respectfully.
| HENRY WARD BEECHER
Every newspaper in Brooklyn, and every
newspaper in New York for that matter, pub.
| lished this letter. 1t was the last of Mr.. Frank,
| lin Woodruffs canvass for the mayoralty.
| Thenceforward Mr.. Beecher and his immediate
| friends made it plain where they stood. They
| supported Mr. Howell for reelection on the
ground that he had made good Mayor. and poor
Mr.. Woodruff was heavily showed under.